Defense Sec. Chuck Hagel and the Defense Department announced the decision in memos and at a town hall meeting in Washington, D.C. Tuesday, saying that everything that could be done to curtail the number had been tried.

"We did everything we could not to get this day, this way," Hagel told DoD employees. "But that's it, that's where we are and I'm sorry about that."

Pentagon furloughs are the result of the federal sequestration that kicked in March 1, forcing $85 billion in across the board cuts for federal agencies for the remainder of the year. Approximately half fell on DoD shoulders.

In his memo to DoD personnel, Hagel pointed to the sequestration and a $30 million cut in operation and maintenance accounts, which is the major checking account for its civilian workforce.

"The department has been doing everything possible to reduce this shortfall while ensuring we can defend the nation, sustain wartime operations, and preserve DoD's most critical asset -- our world-class civilian and military personnel," Hagel wrote to DoD personnel. "

However, Hagel called its efforts insufficient and the resulting action "regrettable" but necessary.

"I have made this decision very reluctantly, because I know that the furloughs will disrupt lives and impact DoD operations," Hagel wrote. "I recognize the significant hardship this places on you and your families."

For those civilians affected, the unpaid furloughs amount to a 20 percent cut in pay while the furloughs are in effect.

Hagel said the number of furlough days represents half of what was initially planned, down from 22 that had been kicked around in March.

However, he has instructed senior officials to monitor funding closely in case the DoD budgetary situation permits ending furloughs early.

"For two years now, members of the Armed Services Committee have warned that sequestration would wound our national security and our economy," McKeon said in a statement Tuesday. "The pain from the first two rounds of President Obama's defense cuts are now being felt. Furloughs are just the beginning. Sequester's pain will intensify and strengthen. It will get far worse before it gets better."

McKeon called the White House and President Barack Obama to task for failing to see reason about sequestration.

For Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, this would affect its 4,166 civilian employees directly employed by the federal government. However, it is still waiting on further guidance, according to a spokesperson.

"We are waiting for further guidance from the Navy and the Southwest Command," Katherine Killinger, NAWS China Lake installation analyst, said Wednesday. "We at NAWS will begin working with all tenants to make sure they understand, but at this time we are still waiting for guidance."

Page 2 of 2 - Ridgecrest Mayor Dan Clark said his concern went out to the employees who would be affected.

"I'm concerned for the young engineers and scientists, their families and those that have a one-check income," Clark said Wednesday. "It especially hurts those that are starting out with a house, a car payment or just starting a family."

Clark called for community support in light of any potential low morale among all federal employees impacted by the furloughs.

"As a tight knit community, we try to stick by each other and we need to support that segment as best we can," Clark said.

Vice Mayor Chip Holloway called it a one-size-fits-all approach to doing business that made no sense.

"If anyone understands the funding mechanism for China Lake, we don't get a big from the federal government," Holloway. "Furloughs do nothing to benefit the business model of China Lake, so it's ridiculous."

Holloway said that if anything, the Navy could benefit from adding more hours to China Lake in some areas "because there's more hours than there are in the day."

Holloway also expressed skepticism about pulling off the looming 11-day furlough schedule.

"Frankly, I don't think they're going to be able to get 11 days in the remainder of the fiscal year, unless they group those days together," he said. "It could be worse but it's a one-size-fits-all approach and I think it's a horrible way to run the government."